But I’m a cynic, I think its because mid-term elections are this November. People usually don’t vote unless they’re pissed off, and nothing pisses people off like paying $40 for a 12-gallon fill up. What say ye, land lubbers??

(Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day Day maties! Arrrrrrrrrrr!)

Of course Quiznos isn’t the only place in Tempe to get a good sammich. Dilly’s Deli (414 W. University Drive) and Bison Witches (21 E. 6th Street #146 aka ASU Brick Yard) also know how to make a mean sandwich. Yum!

Where’s your favorite place for a good sandwich?

“[Phoenix] has a growing cultural infrastructure with artists living and working throughout the city. The downtown art scene draws thousands of visitors each month in addition to weekly art walks at the Scottsdale galleries, and contemporary art exhibitions open regularly at non-profit spaces across the Valley. Artists are playing an active role in envisioning the city’s future, developing clusters of studios, co-ops and galleries and revitalizing neighborhoods in the process. New American City: Artists Look Forward is an exhibition and dialogue on contemporary art and artists, and their role in the future of our city.

The website includes images, a schedule of free public lectures and programs, bios on the 23 artists selected and more. The opening reception is Friday, September 8 from 7-10pm and it is FREE to the public, which is always the case at the ASU Art Museum (no admission cost everyday). There will also be a FREE concert that evening with the local bands Sweet Bleeders and Snow Songs. The exhibition space will also have a resource lounge that will include a large selection on the Phoenix areas growth and development, as well as fiction books by local writers.”

Contact information as well as hours of operation are available on the New American City: Artists Look Forward web page.

Good times.

The complex itself, situated on the edge of a canyon created by the Agua Fria river, is beautifully built and blends in with the surrounding desert landscape. We drove up to Arcosanti through a thunderstorm and by the time we arrived there was a beautiful rainbow over the canyon which was followed with a stunning sunset. I got some great shots of the landscape at Arcosanti which I’ve uploaded to an Arcosanti Flickr set (or see all Arcosanti tagged pics on Flickr).

I stopped in at the MVD in Tempe (Larkspur & N. McClintock) at about 12:30pm and quickly realized that my adventure was only just begining. Not only did I show up during the noon hour (bad idea, everyone else is doing the same) but I also went in on the last day of the month (old tags expire today) and it’s Monday. Everyone is in a great mood on Monday, right?

After standing in line for about 10 minutes I finally made my way up to the Information desk where the nice lady told me that as I am registering my car for the first time in Arizona I need to have the car inspected – basically they just match the VIN on your car with the VIN on the title. So I hop back into my car and pull around to the inspection bay. After another wait the gentleman starts his inspection and informs me that my VIN plate “looks funny” and that he cannot inspect my car. I’ll have to go to another location to be inspected. The closest inspection location that was open today is at 48th and Broadway.

I arrive and sign up for an inspection. After the requisite wait the inspection officer looks at my title and asks why I am here for an inspection (my car is a 2003 model year). I try to explain the situation to him and he doesn’t look amused. I am told to pull into the inspection bay, open the hood, leave the keys in the ignition and go wait in the office. And by open the hood they don’t mean pull the lever inside the car – they literally mean walk around and open the hood for them!

About ten minutes later I hear my name called and I eagerly go up to the counter excited to learn if I’ve passed inspection or not. Mr. Grumpy begins interrogating me, wondering why it has taken so long for me to register my car in Arizona. I tried explaining that my tags didn’t expire until today, but he wasn’t buying it. I was not so politely informed that as soon as I became a citizen of Arizona and obtained a drivers license in Arizona I was required to register my car. I smiled and very politely told him that I would have been there to get my license plates sooner but as ASU is charging me full out-of-state tuition his department had to wait its turn to get my money. Luckily I wasn’t arrested.

I closed the hood to my car (I guess they don’t like to close your hood either) and hopped back on the road to where our story began. They only have 20 parking spots at this location so I had to park about 300 feet away from the building. The line to the information desk had grown since my first visit, luckily the lady remembered me and I was able to bypass the line. After another nice wait in the lobby my number was called and I proudly presented my title, insurance, drivers license and approved inspection paperwork to the lady at desk number 5. She looked over it then said to me “Looks like you might need to get an emissions inspection before I can issue you a license plate.” Ayyyy! I nearly burst into tears. I told her of my adventures thusly for the day and I think the dear lady actually felt sorry for me and didn’t make me get an emissions inspection!! Victory is had! 3 hours, 20 miles, 2 inspections, a gallon of gas and $400 later my car is now officially an Arizona resident (for the next two years anyway).

Before I started my MVD adventures today I had a doctors appointment where they drew blood and I nearly passed out. I’m sure there is a metaphor involved somewhere…

It sure felt like to too – as I was riding my home from the gym, my route took me head-on into the wind and it felt like I was in front of an industrial sized hair-dryer! My cat usually likes to have an afternoon constitutional on my porch but even he didn’t want to go outside today. Right now he’s passed out in front of the fan.

I hope everyone has a safe and cool weekend :)

Last night I visited Changing Hands Bookstore, which is located at 6428 S. McClintock Drive (SW corner of McClintock and Guadalupe in Tempe). I love independent bookstores! Independent stores, in my experience, tend to have a larger and better selection than the big national chains. Browsing through a bookstore also gives me that instant-gratification that I enjoy that online shopping could never give me.

I especially like that Changing Hands has a LOT of interesting books at very discounted price. Everyone loves a nice bargain and with some books marked down 75% (or more if you look hard enough) from suggested retail it is really hard for me to leave the store empty handed.

Being next door to Wildflower Bread and across the street from Pei Wei certainly doesn’t hurt chances that I will visit again soon either!